Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil

It’s the only desert in the world with thousands of lagoons of warm and crystalline water. The Lençóis National Park is an intriguing and remarkable natural phenomenon.

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The best time of the year to see the 155 thousand hectares of the Lençóis Maranhenses at close quarters is between June and September, after the rainy season. This is because the rains ensure the most impressive landscape, via the asymmetrical textures created by hundreds of swollen lagoons that embellish a veritable labyrinth of sand. After the summer, from October onwards, the water gradually disappears, leaving only the dunes, like in any other desert in the world.

The emotional impact caused by the scenery in which lagoons, dunes and virtual mountains moulded by the winds that can reach up to 40 metres in altitude combine is indescribable. When you walk through this immensity, barefoot over the smooth sand, the sensation is one of sliding over bechamel sauce.

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Getting there isn’t easy: you need to cross the River Preguiças on a raft, leaving from Barreirinhas, the town that is the gateway to Lençóis. Then, you have to follow a narrow sandy track, which can only be used with vehicles with traction. Visitors are only allowed in with a guide, not only because it’s a national park, but also because there’s a risk of getting lost in this immense ecological paradise.

To explore Lençóis properly, it’s not enough to walk over the dunes and enjoy refreshing dips in the freshwater lagoons. There are small fishing towns all around the park, like Atins, Caburé and Mandacaru, which are timeless and are worth a visit. Apart from this, off-road trips, panoramic flights and boat excursions on the rivers and mangroves are just a sample of what local tourist agencies offer for visitors to discover this natural wonder.

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by Antonella Kann

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